Washington D.C., Niagara Falls & Philadelphia 3-Day Tour from NYC

Day 1: New York → Philadelphia → Washington D.C.

1. Philadelphia
   Pass by
   We set off from New York and drive south to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, where the American story begins.
   
   New York → Philadelphia → Independence National Historical Park (30 min) → Washington D.C. → U.S. Capitol In-depth Tour + The National Archives (120 min) [inside: U.S. Capitol & National Archives; outside: Supreme Court & Library of Congress] → White House (outside visit, 30 min) → Lincoln Memorial + Vietnam Veterans Memorial (45 min) → Hotel
2. Independence National Historical Park
   30m
   Independence National Historical Park (30 min): Step into what’s often called “the most historic square mile in America.” Around Independence Square you’ll find historic buildings tied to the Revolution and the founding of the country, a milky-white clock tower, and bronze statues of the founding heroes set across the lawns.
3. Washington DC
   Pass by
   From there we continue to Washington, D.C., the political heart of the United States and home to the White House, Congress, and a wealth of museums and monuments.
4. U.S. Capitol
   2h · Admission ticket not included
   U.S. Capitol In-depth Tour + The National Archives (120 min): If you’d like, head inside the U.S. Capitol, the geometric center of Washington, to walk its ornate congressional corridors and hear the stories behind the murals and statues. At The National Archives, you can see the founding documents themselves: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, alongside other landmark records. The tour also passes the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress from the outside.
5. The White House
   30m
   White House (outside visit, 30 min): Stop for photos at the White House, the neoclassical residence and office of every U.S. president since 1800 and a byword for the American government itself.
6. Lincoln Memorial
   45m
   Lincoln Memorial + Vietnam Veterans Memorial (45 min): Wrap up the day at two of the capital’s most moving landmarks. The Lincoln Memorial, a Greek temple-style monument to the 16th president, is where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Just to the north, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a long V-shaped wall of black granite, is inscribed with the names of more than 57,000 service members who died in the war.
   Note: if the U.S. Capitol cannot be entered, it is replaced with the optional Washington D.C. In-depth Tour (Air Force Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and World War II Memorial).

Day 2: Corning→Niagara Falls

1. Corning Museum of Glass
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   On the drive north you can stop at the world-famous Corning Museum of Glass, the heart of the American glass industry. Some 100,000 pieces fill the galleries, from colorful artworks to crystal-clear sculptures, with live glassmaking demonstrations that turn a roadside break into something memorable.
   
   Day 2: Hotel → Corning Museum of Glass (optional, 90 min) → Watkins Glen State Park + Finger Lakes (optional, 90 min, seasonal) → Niagara Falls Night View Tour (90 min) [Ram Island & Moon Island; Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls & American Falls]
2. Watkins Glen State Park
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Watkins Glen State Park + Finger Lakes (90 min, seasonal): When the park is open for the season, detour into Watkins Glen, the “Millennium Valley” in the Finger Lakes region. Its roughly two-mile gorge trail winds past more than a dozen waterfalls carved by glaciers and streams, with the fourteen long, narrow Finger Lakes set side by side like fingers nearby.
   Note: Watkins Glen + Finger Lakes is a seasonal summer stop, generally available May to October once the park officially opens. Please refer to the park’s official website for exact dates; when the park is closed, this stop is not available.
3. Niagara Falls State Park
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Niagara Falls Night View Tour (90 min): By evening you reach Niagara for the night tour, “one park, two islands, three falls.” Heading deep into the park, you take in multi-angle views from Ram Island and Moon Island while Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls glow under shifting colored lights. When a fireworks show is scheduled that evening, we make sure you’re there to see it.

Day 3: Niagara Falls →New York

1. Niagara Falls State Park
   2h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Niagara Falls Classic Tour (2.5 hr): Add the Classic Tour to get up close to the falls. At Whirlpool Park you look down on a 125-foot-deep natural whirlpool, formed where the river makes a sharp turn and the rapids churn back on themselves. At the Cave of the Winds, an elevator drops you into the gorge and onto walkways at the foot of the falls, close enough to feel the spray. In summer the tour finishes with the Maid of the Mist, the storied boat sailing since 1846 that carries you right into the misty basin below the falls. In the cooler season, when the boat is closed, it swaps in Old Fort Niagara State Park, a historic fort at the mouth of the Niagara River with sweeping views over Lake Ontario.
   
   Note: the Maid of the Mist usually closes in winter and is not visited during that period; the winter itinerary visits Old Fort Niagara State Park instead.
2. New York City
   8h
   From there it’s the drive back to New York, wrapping up three days of history and natural spectacle.

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Travelers under 18 must be with an adult. Pregnant travelers allowed if under 24 weeks. Please verify your name and contact details; errors may incur additional costs.
• Please note: Cash is required during the tour for certain attractions, shops, and tickets. Guests are advised to prepare sufficient cash in advance.
• You must provide your pick-up location to the operator at least 3 days before departure. If not received, the default pick-up will be: 7AM at Manhattan: Times Square LOFT Entrance;1459 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
• Hotel rooms accommodate 1–4 guests with either two double beds or one king/queen bed (subject to availability). For groups over 4 or needing multiple room types, please book separately and provide all confirmation numbers after booking.
• By selecting an option and completing your booking, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to the tour's full product description, including all details about itinerary, included and excluded fees. Your payment indicates your acceptance of these terms.
• Tickets & Admission: Third-party attraction tickets or city passes are not accepted. All admission tickets must be purchased during booking or from your guide on the day of the tour.
• Bring comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, cash, and water for hydration. A valid reachable phone number is required for safety and trip communication.
• For individual special needs, tour operator may not be able to guarantee it. For special reasons, please confirm with the tour operator whether your special request is feasible after your booking is confirmed.
• Children under 8 may require a booster seat by law. Coach buses usually do not need one, but winter tours using vans/minivans may. Please contact the operator in advance if needed; rental available on request.